Last Updated on September 16, 2022
How does Nome get electricity? The city does not have its own transmission grid and its utility operator uses variable renewable resources to provide electricity. Instead, it relies on the state’s Power Cost Equalization Endowment Fund. The state has been working to improve the situation for residents of the Arctic town of Nome since 2001. In the meantime, residents have to rely on diesel power for their home and business needs.
Power cost equalization endowment fund
The state legislature has long struggled to adequately fund PCE, especially in rural communities. The Alaska Bush Caucus has fought against funding the program every year because oil prices dropped in the nineties. The state created an endowment and separate fund for PCE in 2000 when surplus monies began to flow back into the treasury. This separate funding source would ensure that PCE is funded without being impacted by annual budget pressures.
The PCE program has a significant impact on both residents and the city. In Fiscal Year 2019, Nome received $865,528 in PCE payments. That means that a Nome household receives about $800 in subsidy each year. This lowers the residential electrical rate for local residents. In fact, many residents attributed the increased amount of money they receive to the PCE program.
Wind power in Nome alaska
The turn to wind power in Nome, Alaska, coincided with the skyrocketing cost of power and diesel fuel. According to a report by the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, the energy crisis in rural Alaska has reached unsustainable levels, threatening health and basic needs. However, the wind farm has proven to be a viable alternative to meet the city’s energy needs. With a windy day, the Nome wind farm can produce more than 30 percent of the city’s electricity.
Nome, Alaska’s electricity grid is a multi-year project that will focus on the integration of geothermal and wind energy into a single power system. The Nome utility operator plans to use wind and geothermal energy to offset diesel generation. It will also focus on energy storage to increase grid stability. The project is expected to generate at least 2.7 megawatts of power and will be able to use up to 2MW of geothermal power.
Geothermal power in Nome alaska
A new project is aiming to bring geothermal power to Nome. The project could produce two to four megawatts of electricity, enough to power the entire town. The project will also provide significant on-site development opportunities, including greenhouses, fish hatcheries, and bathing facilities. The Nome Geothermal Resource has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Geothermal power in Nome Alaska is of historical significance and will provide the city with a source of energy.
The Pilgrim Hot Springs project was the product of a public-private partnership between the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the City of Nome, and several indigenous corporations. The project team is drilling a large exploration hole at Pilgrim Hot Springs, about 60 road miles from Nome. A successful flow test will confirm that the hot springs contain enough hot water to support a large geothermal power production facility, as well as transmission lines to Nome.
Diesel power in Nome alaska
Most of Nome’s electric generation comes from 18 megawatts of diesel power, including backup generators. Unfortunately, diesel fuel is expensive and must be barged to the town. This summer, prices for diesel fuel in Nome reached $3.50 a gallon, more than double last summer’s price. In comparison, the electricity rate in Anchorage is just 36 cents per kilowatt-hour. However, there is hope for Nome, as the utility company is now exploring wind power as an alternative.
Geothermal energy has the potential to replace diesel power in Nome, Alaska. The proposed Pilgrim Hot Springs project could produce up to 5 megawatts of electricity for a cost of $50 to 115 million. The project could replace expensive diesel power generation in the town. Geothermal heating systems have been used in Alaska for hundreds of years, with the Chena Hot Spring project a leading example. However, no one knows when or how the geothermal energy project might be able to bring electricity to the community.
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Wendy Lee is a pop culture ninja who knows all the latest trends and gossip. She's also an animal lover, and will be friends with any creature that crosses her path. Wendy is an expert writer and can tackle any subject with ease. But most of all, she loves to travel - and she's not afraid to evangelize about it to anyone who'll listen! Wendy enjoys all kinds of Asian food and cultures, and she considers herself a bit of a ninja when it comes to eating spicy foods.